Fire Department - Public Education - Poison Control - What is a Poison?
What Is A Poison?
A poison is any product or substance that can harm you or someone else if used in the wrong way, by the wrong person, or in the wrong amount. There are millions of individuals who are unintentionally poisoned every year. A poison can be any substance that can cause an unintended symptom.
Poisons Come In Four Different Forms:
- Solid Poisons
Prescriptions or over the counter medicines, plants, powders (such as laundry soap and dishwasher detergent), granular pesticides and fertilizers.
- Liquid Poisons
Syrup medicines, liquid laundry and dishwasher detergent, furniture polish, lotion, lighter fluid. Pay special attention to liquids; a large quantity can be swallowed in a short period of time and they are absorbed rapidly.
- Sprays
Insecticides, spray paint and various cleaning products, which can come in solid, liquid, or spray form. Aerosol sprays may be flammable, explode and cause damage to the heart and lungs if inhaled.
- Invisible Poisons
Gases or vapors, carbon monoxide from hot water heaters and furnaces, exhaust fumes from automobiles, fumes from gas or oil burning stoves, and industrial pollution in the air.
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